Chapter One: Imaginary
Written by R. A. Rohde
04 January 2005
Disclaimer: The enchanting and sometimes frightening magical world of Harry Potter belongs completely to J. K. Rowling. In no way am I trying to contest this, and neither am I profiting in any way from what I have written. I am merely playing in the universe she created.
The song Imaginary belongs to Evanescence and Amy Lee, and the lyrics are (unfortunately) used without permission. I am not, however, profiting in any manner from this use.
The address given is that of Garden Lodge, the home of the late Freddie Mercury. I have used this because it is the sole British address I know.
Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming
Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights
Oh how I long for the deep sleep dreaming
The goddess of imaginary light
In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me
I linger in the doorway
Of alarm clocks screaming, monsters calling my name
Let me stay where the wind will whisper to me
Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story
Don't say I'm out of touch
With this rampant chaos – your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge
The nightmare I built my own world to escape
If you need to leave the world you live in
Lay your head down and stay a while
Though you may not remember dreaming
Something waits for you to dream again
In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie in side myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me
Vanessa sighed quietly as she closed the small paperback book and laid it on her nightstand. She hated finishing books, hated the worlds that came to their finish, leaving her in her own boring, mundane world. It was much better to be in a world where even a child could something great and magnificent, but such was not her luck, she knew. Still, she had finished her books early enough to warrant a trip back to the library, and now that she was ten, surely she would be allowed to walk the three blocks on her own! Elated at the thought of her own rather small adventure, Vanessa quickly scooted off her bed and slipped her shoes on, just in time to hear her name called from downstairs.
Taking the stairs two at a time, and running into the den, she was surprised to see both of her parents waiting for her, slightly confused expressions gracing their faces.
'Vanessa, honey,' her mum began, unfolding and examining a thick piece of paper as she spoke. 'Sweetie, were you and Tabitha and your other friends still planning on starting that secret club of yours?'
Vanessa nodded enthusiastically. There were five girls on her street, herself included, and they had decided a few weeks earlier to spend their summer together, as the members of a secret club. 'Bethany's mum's going to make us skirts next week, too! And Andrea's dad is going to get us all journals to write in!' She paused for a moment, then looked at her parents questioningly. 'Are you still going to help us build a clubhouse?'
Her mum smiled but didn't answer, again looking back at the papers in her hand. 'You girls aren't by any chance planning on using your clubhouse as a…' Her voice drifted off as she searched the paper for the words she wanted to use. '…as a school for witchcraft and wizardry, are you?'
'No,' Vanessa said slowly, confused by the question.
Her father nodded at her answer, and patted the open space beside him on the couch. Obediently, she sat down next to him as her mother continued.
'Do you know which of your friends might have sent this to you, 'Nessa, honey?' As she asked the question, Vanessa's mother handed the letter and envelope to her, and Vanessa realized that it had been written on parchment, not paper.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Quinlan,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Severus Snape
Deputy Headmaster
Vanessa looked askance at the paper underneath, which listed books, clothes, and other assorted necessities her parents were supposed to purchase for her before the start of the term. It took her a moment to realize that the letter mentioned witchcraft and wizardry, meaning magic. This is even better than reading a book! It's almost like I'm living one, now!
'None of my friends would've sent this, Mum.' Vanessa said quietly, running a hand over the thick, expensive parchment. 'Our club is just a secret friends club.'
Her parents sighed and looked at each other. 'Then who could've sent it, 'Nessa?' her mother asked, clearly losing patience. 'Who do you know would pull a joke on you like this? I mean, honestly, Edmund! As if a school of witchcraft actually existed!'
'Mum,' Vanessa said softly, staring at the envelope, 'I don't think this is a joke.'
Ms. V. Quinlan
Blue Room
1 Logan Place
Kensington
London
'Nobody knows I call my room the Blue Room, Mum! It has to be real!'
Her father reached over for the pages, and Vanessa handed them to him. He seemed to find the archaic, authoritative script enthralling, something she hoped was a good sign. Her mother, on the other hand, was glaring at the both of them.
'Vanessa Marie, I cannot believe you'd believe something so silly and obviously fake! Magic is not real – don't you think I'd know it if it were? And as for this school, this Hogwarts,' her tone took on a sneering note here, and Vanessa winced to hear it, 'it's certainly not on the list of schools with acceptable academics – private or otherwise!'
Her father looked up from the letter at her mother's last sentence. 'Maggie,' he soothed, moving his free hand to hold one of hers, 'this is far too well done to have been a childish joke. There can't be any harm in replying, certainly, if we ever find a way. What they mean by 'owl', I don't quite know, but there it is. If it turns out to be a joke in the end, we've not lost anything by it, since she doesn't have to register at St. Joseph's before August.'
'Please, Mum!' Vanessa pleaded, seeing her mother softening at her father's words. 'If it's real, Mum…'
Margaret Quinlan sighed, knowing she'd just lost the argument. 'I knew we'd have trouble keeping you in reality, 'Nessa, once you got lost in your books. I just hope you aren't too disappointed when this turns out to be a great practical joke.'
Unable to keep from grinning, Vanessa jumped up and hugged her mother, then her father. 'Oh, thank you so much! It's real, I promise you. You'll see!'
And with that, she was running back up to her room – the Blue Room – to reread her acceptance letter in private.
Author's Notes: Just to clarify, this story opens years after the defeat of Voldemort, and the graduation of the familiar characters in J. K. Rowling's novels (such as Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna, etc.). I hope that helps to explain why Severus Snape is listed as the Deputy Headmaster, rather than Minerva McGonagall.